German prosecutors drop Turkish cleric spying probe

German prosecutors on Wednesday said they were dropping a case against several Muslim clerics suspected of spying for Turkey due to insufficient evidence, and as some were out of reach of law enforcers.

The probe had inflamed tensions with Ankara, at a time when ties were frayed over Berlin's criticisms of Turkey's human rights record.

The Muslim clerics targeted by the German investigation belonged to Ditib, an organisation that manages some 900 mosques and religious centres in Germany.

They were suspected of spying for Turkish government on the movement of US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen, who orchestrated July 15, 2016 coup attempt and leader of FETO (Fetullah Terrorist Organization).

But German federal prosecutors said they have now halted the probe.

Prosecutors said they had sought arrest warrants for seven suspects who are now residing in unknown locations, but a presiding judge found that the individuals did not pose an urgent threat.

Another seven individuals were cleared as allegations were not substantiated by evidence.

Unable to get material

Police were able to obtain "written documents, data storage banks and communications material" in raids targeting the suspects, but "analyses and investigations did not find" proof that they provided information to Turkish authorities.

The case against five others was dropped as they were found to have "provided only very general findings to the consulate and not concrete information relating to specific individuals."

Ties between Germany and Turkey – NATO allies with strong historic ties – nosedived over Ankara's arrest of several German citizens and Berlin's strong criticism of the detentions following last year's failed coup, which has seen over 50,000 people arrested. Many have been released after being cleared.

The Turkish government also accuses Germany of hosting thousands of its citizens which Ankara sees they have links to FETO.

The Turkish government has however made some conciliatory moves in recent weeks, including releasing two German nationals who had been detained in Turkey.

A week after the German citizens were granted conditional release, both sides' foreign ministers also met in the southern Turkish resort of Antalya for informal talks – the first meeting since the bitter row intensified.

On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Erdogan held a rare phone conversation.